Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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Nothing quite says “fall” like a wonderful mac and cheese recipe.We spiced up mac and cheese with roasted, skinned, seeded, and stemmed authentic Hatch chilies. They takethis creamy mac and cheese recipe to the next level.

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It’s hatch chile time during August and September, and there are many ways to enjoy them during the season, and long after the season is over. This Hatch chile mac and cheese recipe adds a subtle kick without overpowering the creamy mac and cheese that everyone loves!

To roast Hatch chile peppers, you can use agas or charcoal grill or put them in the oven on broil. We roasted ours on the charcoal grill until blackened and chard but not burntfor the perfect texture and flavorcombination.

Be sure that you rotate the peppers to blacken all sides, which can take about 3 to 4 minutes total. Next, remove them from the grill and put them in a paper sack to cool for 15 or 20 minutes.

Then, simplypull off the outer layer of skin, rinse, and chop to the desired size for your recipe or personal preference.

Macaroni and cheese is an easy dish that is often cooked for children’s lunches or for a quick dinner. But there are ways to make macaroni and cheese feel more grown up and as a dish that you want to savor.

The different ingredients are what make it more grown up. For example, this recipe calls for hatch green chilies, medium onions, and a few various kinds of cheese that most kids wouldn’t eat.

But the secret is in the cheese, sure, we could use regular old American cheese, but we want something better, like a blend of sharp cheddar, cream cheese, and fontina cheese.

That’s right, this isn’t your elementary school mac and cheese.

Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese Recipe Instructions

Roast Hatch Green Chiles on a gas or charcoal grill for 3 to 4 minutes, making sure to rotate so all sides become blackened and charred.

If you roast in the oven, place them on abaking sheetand arrange the chilies in a single layer on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Roast the chilies on one side by placingthe chilies under the broiler.Roast until the skin is charred and blistered on all sides, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Place a large pot of salted water over high heat. Once boiling, cook the pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a separate large saucepan or cast-iron pan, add the butter and onion and sauté over medium-high heat until the onions are softened. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper.

Gradually add the milk and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Turn down to simmer and gradually add the cream cheese. Stir continuously, adding the shredded cheddar and fontina to the pan.

Directions Continued

Once the cheese sauce is smooth, add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir to coat the macaroni and cheese until combined.

Next, add the chopped Hatch green chilies and combine.

Finally, add 1/2 cup of Panko breadcrumbs to the top and bake for approximately 20 to 30 minutes or until the breadcrumbs start to brown.

Finding authentic Hatch Chilies is part of the fun of making this recipe! Some storeseven have roasting events where you can get your Hatch chilies roasted, taking a step out of meal preparation.

The time is now to get your Hatch chilies from New Mexico, or you will have to wait until next year when they are available again. Enjoy this mac and cheese recipe made with hatch chilies! It pairs perfectly with our margarita recipes!

Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese Recipe (7)

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Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese

This Hatch chile mac and cheese recipe adds a subtle kick without overpowering the creamy mac and cheese that everyone loves!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time50 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni
  • 3 1/2 tbs butter
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 Hatch green Chilies roasted, peeled, semmed, seeded and chopped
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 medium onion peeled and chopped
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/2 lb Fontina cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup Panko crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Roast Hatch Green Chiles on a gas or charcoal grill 3 to 4 minutes, making sure to rotate so all side become blackened and charred.

  • Place a large pot of salted water over high heat. Once boiling cook the pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside.

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

  • In a separate large sauce pan or cast iron pan, add the butter and onion and sauté over medium-high heat until the onions are softened. Stir in flour, salt and pepper.

  • Gradually add the milk and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

  • Turn down to simmer and add gradually add the cream cheese. Stir continuously, adding the shredded cheddar and fontina to the pan.

  • Once the cheese sauce is smooth, add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir to coat the macaroni and cheese until combined.

  • Next, add the chopped Hatch green chilies and combine.

  • Finally, add 1/2 cup of Panko bread crumbs to the top and bake for approximately 20 to 30 minutes or until bread crumbs start to brown.

Notes

If you roast in the oven place on abaking sheet,arrange the chilies in a single layer on aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Roast the chilies on one side by placingthe chilies under the broiler.Roast until the skin is charred and blistered on all sides, about 3 to 5 minutes.

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Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is special about Hatch Chile? ›

The Hatch is like no pepper you've had before: it's sweet and smoky, it has a slight funk to it and a grassiness that makes it always taste like it's freshly picked.

How do you cook Hatch Chile? ›

How to cook them. When cooking with Hatch chiles at home, make sure you roast them to enhance the flavor and intensify the heat level. Broil them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet until charred, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

Are Hatch chiles hotter than jalapenos? ›

Hatch green chile peppers can range on the Scoville Scale from 1000 to 8000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). However, some can be much hotter. For comparison, jalapeños are usually between 2500 and 8000 SHU. They are pretty similar in heat, but the average Hatch chile is milder than the average jalapeño.

Why is Hatch Green Chile so good? ›

The reason Hatch Chile are so special is that they are considered by many to be the best tasting of all chile peppers - especially when roasted! The roasting really brings out the delicious flavors – the thick flesh of roasted Hatch Chile has the best buttery, smokey, intense flavor!

Can you eat the skin of a Hatch Chile? ›

Some chiles have such a thick skin that they need to be peeled before being included in recipes. The larger chiles, like Anaheims (to which the “Hatch” chiles belong), sweet bell peppers, and poblanos, all require peeling, otherwise, their skins toughen during cooking and give an unpleasant texture to your dish.

Are Hatch chiles hotter than green chiles? ›

New Mexico/Hatch Chiles

These long green chiles are virtually identical to California and Anaheim peppers, with one distinct difference: they are much, much hotter. Hatch chiles are New Mexico chiles that are grown in the small town of Hatch, New Mexico, and are considered premium green chiles.

Are Hatch chiles hotter than poblano peppers? ›

Hatch Chile Festival

🌶🌶 Medium = Comparable to a poblano pepper, and still considered fairly mild.

Are Hatch chilis really hot? ›

Some types of Hatch Chile can be quite mild, ranging from around 1,000 SHU, while others can be fairly hot, reaching up to 8,000 SHU or more. So, in terms of heat, some Hatch Chile is milder than a jalapeno, while others are just as hot, or even hotter.

Do you have to remove the skin from Hatch chiles? ›

The tough outer skin must be removed from the chile. Blistering the skin using one of the following methods makes removal easy. Wash and dry chile. Use a knife to make a small slit in the side to allow steam to escape.

Why is it called Hatch Chile? ›

Hatch Chiles Come from One Place

The truth is simple: They got their name simply because they're grown in the Hatch Valley. While it may sound strange, the Hatch Valley is the only place this delectable chile can be grown.

What is the best substitute for Hatch Chile? ›

If you are unable to obtain Hatch peppers, Anaheim peppers make a good substitute. Cubanelle peppers can work as well. I've used poblano peppers as a substitute and was quite happy. You really want to find a good thicker walled chili pepper to sub in for Hatch chiles, something with a milder level of heat.

Which is hotter red or green hatch Chile? ›

Did you know that all Hatch chile varieties eventually turn red as they ripen to full maturity? That doesn't mean they necessarily get hotter – as they redden they develop deeper often sweeter flavor, while the heat level doesn't typically increase.

Are poblano and Hatch Chile the same? ›

Hatch chiles look similar to Anaheim chiles, but they are not the same. Nor are they poblano peppers.

Are Hatch peppers healthy? ›

Chile peppers increase the enzymes responsible for fat metabolism in the liver and are used in the treatment of blood clots; the capsaicin helps to thin the blood. They also may help prevent the growth of certain cancers and aid in many skin conditions including psoriasis, itching and bruising.

What makes Hatch chiles different? ›

“These long green chiles are virtually identical to California and Anaheim peppers, with one distinct difference: they are much, much hotter. Hatch chiles are New Mexico chiles that are grown in the small town of Hatch, New Mexico, and are considered premium green chiles.

Do Hatch chiles only grow in New Mexico? ›

Only chile grown here in Hatch, New Mexico, and the surrounding Hatch Valley is actually “Hatch Chile”. There are many different varieties of green and red chile grown here, meaning “hatch chile” is a catchall phrase for chile grown in the Valley.

Why is Hatch Chile called Hatch? ›

Hatch Chiles Come from One Place

The truth is simple: They got their name simply because they're grown in the Hatch Valley. While it may sound strange, the Hatch Valley is the only place this delectable chile can be grown.

Is a Hatch chili the same as a poblano pepper? ›

Hatch peppers can range from 1,000 – 8,000 in Scoville Heat Units – for perspective, they generally fall between the mild spice of a poblano or Anaheim chili pepper and can heat up towards a jalapeno or habanero on the Scoville Scale.

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